State District JUDGE J. P. FARRIS, 65, who presided over...

HOUSTON — State District JUDGE J. P. FARRIS, 65, who presided over most of the Pennzoil-Texaco trial that led to a record $10.53 billion judgment against Texaco Inc., died Monday of cancer.

The trial began in July 1985, and Farris was forced by illness to step down 15 weeks later. Retired State District Judge Solomon Casseb of San Antonio was appointed to preside over the remainder of the trial.

A jury in November slapped Texaco with the $10.53 billion judgment, the largest in U.S. history, for its actions in acquiring Getty Oil in 1984.

The death of Farris will not affect Texaco's appeal of the judgment, which is before the 1st Court of Appeals.